Page 21 of The Don

“Fucking bitch.” Chastity growls, and it makes me laugh softly. “You see, the monster we lived with? Everything she does is the result of a carefully contrived plan to wield the utmost damage. She wanted the visual reminder to weaken me. Her reference to this as her favorite view was done with destruction in mind. Her comments to you were to undermine your confidence and place a wedge between us.”

I turn and stare into two dark brown eyes of sympathy and whisper, “This is just the beginning. She is capable of much more, and I want you to be prepared for that.”

“She doesn’t scare me.”

“Then you’re a fool.”

“Excuse me.” Her eyes flash as I turn to face her and, leaning closer, whisper, “I thought twice about bringing you here at all. You may be good, Chastity, but she could be better.”

“You doubt me?”

She’s incensed, and I shake my head and pull her even closer and whisper huskily, “I doubt myself.”

“I’m confused.”

“Then that makes two of us.”

She shakes her head and grins. “You fucking weirdo.”

It makes me laugh and then she presses her lips against mine and says in a low voice, “Is that why you were so angry at the table when I arrived? Because of what she could do.”

“No.”

I stare at her hard. “I didn’t like the way Ryan was looking at you.”

She regards me in shock, and I enjoy the experience. She is usually so guarded with the coolest façade and yet my words appear to have broken through her defenses for once and her eyes fill with unshed tears as she says with a slight catch to her voice, “You were jealous?”

“No.” I kick emotion back into its cage and growl, “I don’t want anything to interfere with our business arrangement and he knows that.”

I may as well have plunged a knife into her heart because the light dims in her eyes and she nods with a reluctant acceptance. “Of course. I understand.”

I break the spell I have created and say firmly, “I’m taking a walk on the beach to clear my head. You are welcome to join me.”

She pulls back a little and shakes her head. “No, you’re good. I need to head out to the electrical store if you could arrange a ride.”

“Electrical store. Why?”

I’m confused, and she shrugs. “I found several bugs and spyware devises hidden in your room. I need to mess with them.”

“You did?” I’m incensed and say roughly, “Show me.”

“And alert your evil stepmother that we’re onto her. How is that a plan?”

She rolls her eyes and yet I don’t miss the humor in them as she turns away and says over her shoulder, “Enjoy your walk. Maybe Ryan can drop me into town.”

As she moves away from me, I am conflicted. Do I go after her and demand she show me what she found and what the fuck was that Ryan comment about? She knows I don’t want her anywhere near him and not for the reasons I gave her, either. For some reason, I don’t want anyone else near her, which tells me I’m in unknown territory. Why do I care who she fucks, attracts, or spends time with? I should be glad she’s not expecting me to step up and take care of her.

I turn and almost run down the steps onto the beach and try to sort my fucking head out. I’m losing my shit and I don’t know what to do about it.

CHAPTER15

CHASTITY

There is a lot happening inside me right now and I don’t like it. Leo is a strange one, alright. One minute it’s as if he cares and the next, he’s so cold he freezes me out. I don’t know which one I’m getting and as I head back to the house, the one thing that angers me the most is that he thinks Diana could better me. As if that would ever happen because I’ve spent years learning my craft and so I bit back, and the Ryan comment was to provoke a reaction although I’m not sure I liked the one I got. It’s probably true. He is only interested in the job he is paying me for and I’m still unclear about what that actually involves.

My thoughts turn to Carlos Matasso, and I shiver inside. Is there something he’s not telling me about him? Will I come face to face with my parent’s murderer when I least expect it and how will I react?

I’m not sure I’m ready for this, but then again, I probably never will be.

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